ROCKFON has successfully worked together with Global Contract Interiors, Kier Construction and Architects Seymour Harris, to establish a fully compliant range of acoustic solutions that meet the required performance specifications at the new Phoenix Academy in Telford; built as part of the council’s Building Schools for the Future programme.
Around 2,000m² of ROCKFON products: Rockfon Scholar and Samson wall panels; Rockfon Contour suspended baffles; and Rockfon Alaska suspended raft islands, were installed throughout the school to improve acoustic sound absorption – particularly in areas where the design of the school meant that traditional suspended ceilings were unable to be installed.
Global Contract Interiors Ltd. Director Chris Thompson, explained why ROCKFON acoustic ceiling and wall solutions were chosen for the new academy, “The modern and innovative design of the school building provided a number of challenges. ROCKFON produce a range of products which helped to overcome these difficulties and met the specifications for each of the different areas including acoustic requirements and installation restrictions. They also provide the finished look the architect desired, contributing to the success of the project.”
One of the difficulties faced was achieving optimum acoustics in classrooms without soft floor coverings and with limited free wall space due to windows, doors, interactive white boards etc. To overcome this, a combination of Rockfon Scholar wall panels and Rockfon Contour free hanging baffles were installed to meet the acoustic requirements. In the classrooms with the movable walls, the baffles were installed around the services affixed to the ceiling such as sprinklers and lights.
The innovative design of Rockfon Contour baffles makes them easy to install in tight spaces. Manufactured from stone wool, these frameless baffles are ideal for enhancing acoustics in thermal mass areas or where frequent and unhindered access to services is required. Their versatility was put to good use in the double height vocational mall that runs between the classrooms at ground and first floor levels – over 300 baffles were installed at an angle to follow the pitch of the sloping room at a height of 6-9 metres. The smooth, matt, white finish of Contour provides excellent light reflection. It was for this reason they were co-ordinated with the suspended lighting and radiant panels which were also installed.
Jim Fogarty, Business Manager at Phoenix Academy was impressed by how well Rockfon’s baffles blend in with the décor of the new building and at the same time meet the acoustic requirements.
“We realised that acoustic panels were a necessary part of the building design but it was a pleasant surprise to see how well they complement the interior - we really appreciate their aesthetic qualities”.
Rockfon Scholar wall panels are often the panel of choice for school buildings as they comply with BB93 acoustics for schools and offer Class A sound absorption. The panels have a white reinforced fleece making them the perfect choice for school classrooms, communal spaces and areas where there is a medium risk of occasional impact. At the Academy, wall panels were installed in the main hall and in classrooms.
Funding provider, Sport England contributed to the build of the sports hall which enabled the school to have a hall that is twice the standard size. Rockfon Samson high impact wall absorbers were chosen for this area of high activity because they are resilient enough to withstand impact from sports equipment and tough daily use. The durable woven surface of the white or grey panels also offers good acoustic control in noisy and reverberant areas such as sports halls and open studios.
Initially, Jim Fogarty had misgivings about the acoustics in what could be a large reverberant space and is delighted that Rockfon’s wall absorbers have silenced these concerns. “I’ve visited sports halls of a similar size and without exception the acoustics were pretty poor, even one-to-one conversations were difficult. But here, we have no such issues and the PE and leisure staff really appreciate being able to communicate without intrusive noise – making their jobs so much easier.”
Circulation areas in schools are busy spaces where unwanted noise can travel through the walls and disturb lessons taking place in adjacent classrooms. To combat this, Rockfon Alaska suspended raft islands were installed to provide enhanced sound absorption, keeping noise disturbance to a minimum. The low weight of the rafts makes them easy and quick to install.
ROCKFON acoustic products offer outstanding sound control, are aesthetically pleasing and can be tailored to the individual needs of any building design.